Not All T-Shirts Are Created Equal - Some Have Shiploads of Attitude
A Whitsundays-based sailing family has come-up with a practical and tongue-in-cheek line of clothing that is sailors' answer to the likes of Billabong and Rip Curl.
Online, June 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - SURFERS have had access to a range of quality and stylish clothing for years, but what about their humble cousins - sailors, yachties and other sea lovers? Thanks to an exciting move by a North Queensland sailing family a new line of clothing has washed onto our shores and it has thrown hefty resort price tags overboard.
Grotty Yachty was created for sailors by sailors to allow them to express their unique personalities and humour.
"While there are a number of brands catering to the sailing fraternity, we felt there was a gap in the market for street wear that had a relevance for sailors, was a wee bit tongue-in-cheek, yet didn't cost a proverbial sheep station to wear," Sandy Clark explains, who fabricated the brand with her partner Kelvin and daughter Naomi.
"Existing sailing brands are targeted to the elite end of the market, but the reality is the majority of sailors are not yacht owners. It takes one person to own a 44ft yacht but up to six people to sail in a fun Wednesday afternoon Gentleman's Sailing (WAGS) event. We want to give those sailors a sense of pride. Those living the dream will identify with the brand name Grotty Yachty because we have cotton clothing that's inexpensive, easy to wear and matches the wearer to their passion - much like the surfer wears the iconic brands Billabong and Rip Curl."
Sandy and Kelvin are based in the Whitsundays - the hub of Australia's sailing and cruising activity - and devised the clothing label while living upon their Roberts 44 in Townsville. They have sailed the Australian coast for 10 years and built strong ties with the sailing community, now dropping anchor in Airlie Beach to develop the innovative range.
Grotty Yachty has elected to have all the design and printing work completed by Australian businesses. They are keeping the operation as local to North Queensland as possible by using a screen printer in Airlie Beach for the t-shirts and a local embroiderer will create the polo range for the 'After 5' look.
"We could have done things more cost-effectively by taking production overseas, but we really wanted a quality product and to have other Australians and North Queenslanders benefit from this exciting venture," Sandy says.
Grotty Yachty Clothing's website went live in May and there will be a public launch of the clothing range on Wednesday, June 16 from 4-7pm at the Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach.
The full Grotty Yachty collection is available from www.grottyyyachty.com.au with no shirt over $40.
 
GY fact file
• Grotty Yachty was founded by Sandy, Kelvin and Naomi Clark in 2009 and combines their sense of humour with their years of adventure on the water.
• Grotty Yachty has more than 1,100 Facebook fans when it launched its website in May, 2010.
• The name Grotty Yachty is used to describe a live aboard sailor, or someone who spends a great deal of recreational time on the water. The stigma of being "grotty" is one many sailors wish to dispel, hence the crew at Grotty Yachty setup a brand that reflects the good humour of the sailing community - it's less about the grot and more about the yacht.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.grottyyachty.com.au or call Sandy Clark on 0411 271 387 or email helmsman@grottyyachty.com.au